As promised by Double E Construction last Nov. 4, the state Route 128 slope stabilization and shoulder improvements project was completed Friday, Jan. 30. The project involved stabilizing the edge of the road and the installation of a guardrail on SR 128 at mile 28, just downstream from the Dewey Bridge. The project required nighttime closures for a short while and one-way daytime traffic during most of the construction. The construction delays were mostly short and seemed to have little effect on local residents traveling eastbound to Grand Junction or beyond.

The roadway in that area of the River Road was the scene of two traffic fatalities over the past few years because of how the road winds through the narrow canyon with no room for error while commuting the roadway. A concrete wall was installed on the river side of the road to stabilize the loose material under the road, and a guardrail was also installed to keep vehicles out of the river in that dangerous area. Double E Construction thanked everyone for their patience with the one-lane access through the area during the project.

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Firemen with the State Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands conducted a prescribed burn along Castle Creek last Thursday, Jan. 30. The area was overgrown with Russian olive and tamarisk trees. It was thinned by a contractor several years ago and the limbs were put in piles to be burned. The first choice is to chip the limbs, but the area is inaccessible for the chipper because of the steep banks of the creek bed.

The agency likes to conduct the burns during the winter months when there is snow on the ground, so there is no chance of the fire spreading out of control. However, the crew won’t burn unless the clearing index is favorable. But a good burn day is uncommon in the winter, and Thursday was the first opportunity in a long time. The eight-man crew, led by Grand County Fire Warden Mark Marcum, burned about 20 piles of limbs north of Homestead Lane and about 20 other piles from another project in Castle Creek just east of Castle Valley Drive.

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Faylene Roth informs us that this week it is time for the second Castle Valley Movie Night. Library patrons suggested a good comedy as an antidote to the mid-winter doldrums, according to Roth, so she came up with the movie “Black Cat White Cat.”

It is described as a zany farce about gypsy life on the Danube River. Its plot weaves around through dirty deals, misplaced trust, and arranged marriages that don’t turn out as planned. There are some good strong characters in the film. The dialogue is in French but the story and subtitles are easy to follow, she said. The movie time is this Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Castle Valley Library and Faylene said that, of course, there will be popcorn!

Castle Valley Town council member Jazmine Duncan also reminds us of an important public meeting concerning the town’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). She says John Crofts, director of the NFIP, will be attending a public meeting next Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Town Hall. Crofts will be accompanied by Brad Bartholomew, the state hazard mitigation officer, and they will be providing information about the National Flood Insurance Program. Participation in the NFIP ensures that communities are eligible for help from FEMA in the event of a flood disaster.

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Looking back 30 years in the dusty old “Castle Valley Comments” files reveals that Tina Plastow of Castle Valley was chosen “Miss Grand County High School” for 1984. The seniors nominated and voted for candidates the previous week and the announcement was made during the homecoming assembly. As Miss GCHS, Tina represented the school as the most all-around student. John Knowles of Moab was voted the male counterpart. Tina, who currently lives in Bicknell, Utah, is married with five children and three grandchildren and is the daughter of Pete and the late Patt Plastow of Castle Valley.

This column also reported back then that Glo-Germ, a local business that produced germ detection equipment for hospitals, medical schools, vocational schools and large food handlers, broke into the international market. Company president Joe Kingsley stated that Imperial Chemical of Melbourne, Australia, purchased 20 germ detection kits and was interested in marketing them worldwide.

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